june frg newsletter
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1st BSTB - 1st BCT Camp Ar Ramadi Iraq
CONTACT INFORMATION
REAR DETACHMENT CPT MIKE RICCITIELLO
SSG ANTONIO ESPARZA
FRG LEADERS
Family Readiness Support Assistant
Crystal Cavalier
Office: 910-396-5812
HHC FRG LDR: JESSICA BURT
A CO FRG LDR: ROCHELLE HALL
B CO FRG LDR: REBEKAH LARDIZABAL AND KATHERINE MURRAY
C CO FRG LDR: ANNA GARDEL
Devil Strike Dispatch
Devil Strike Family and Friends, Good day, from a very hot and sandy
Anbar Province Iraq. Your troopers remain diligent, focused and keeping up the sustain-ment of the valuable partnerships they devel-oped throughout our deployment. The tem-peratures continue to rise and even with 117 degree days you cannot beat our indomita-ble spirit, persis-tence and patience to mentor and train our Iraqi Army and Police counterparts. The impact we have is clearly apparent in the conduct of our partnered op-erations and training as the daily interac-tion with your Para-trooper provides his/her respective coun-terpart a clear and tangible picture of what “right looks like”.
Our MPs de-ployed to Al Anbar and quickly assumed several vital roles to the success of the Devil Strike battalion and the 1
st Advise
and Assist Brigade. The Police Training Team (PTT) has a vital partnership mission with the Iraqi Police in Ramadi. They provide mentorship, advice, and assistance to Ramadi’s Chiefs of Police encompassing two districts and the subordinate staffs at each location. The platoon worked hard through-out, developing and professionalizing the IP, making them a viable source of security and protection for the citizens of Ramadi. Lead-ing this team is Platoon Leader 1LT Bryan
Jonas and SSG Richard Valdovinos. Also providing valuable mentorship are SGTs Cur-tis Briles, Martin Delaney, Nicholas Hackley, and Ryan Howell. Making the mission possi-ble are SPCs Kevin Engle, Stephen Gon-zalez, Nicolaas Kooiman, Nathan Phelps,
Kirsten Price, Rich-ard Reed, and Santiago Rosario and PFC Jason Durfey. The second and third squads of the MP platoon al-ternate between two important missions, force protection for Camp Ramadi and convoy security for our support platoon.
They provide their expertise and pro-tection to our Sup-port Platoon as they travel the roads of Anbar, transporting vital supplies and personnel to and from the cities of the province. Thanks to their work, the 1BSTB has the parts and supplies they need to keep our equipment running smoothly. The re-
maining squad keeps the soldiers in Camp Ramadi safe by monitoring the roads, walking the base, and responding to police issues on the base. Providing mentorship to second squad is SSG Damien Bednar and SGTs Christopher Maurer, Andrew Scheidemantel, Thomas Workman, and Joel Wright. Serving as the drivers and gunners of the squad are SPCs Ngiraichetei Arurang, Robert Barron, Andrew Gober, Kevin Hartzel, Justin Kicos, and Daniel Thomas, PFCs Sunny Bell and
From the Commander’s Desk
"The DEVIL STRIKE FRG is for the benefit of the FRG members only and is established exclusively for charitable purposes and to provide support to Soldiers and family member as the Soldiers and families adapt to Army life. It is not a business and is not being run to generate profits. It is not an instrumentality of the United States Government." "The inclusion of some unofficial information in this FRG newsletter has not increased the costs to the Government, in accordance with DOD 4525.8-M."
1 6 J U N E 2 0 1 0 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7
INSIDE
THE ISSUE
Commander 1-2
Headquarters Co 2-3
Alpha Company 4-5
Bravo Company 5-6
Charlie Company 7-8
Pictures From
Medics and MPs
9-10
This Month’s Feature Sections:
Medical Platoon and
Military Police
Above: The 1BSTB Military Police Platoon, the “Punishers” Below: Members of the 1BSTB Medical Platoon, at Camp Ramadi, Iraq
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY
To everyone back home greetings and happy Fa-thers’ Day from hot and sunny Ramadi. The dry season has officially kicked in, the temperature is routinely in triple digits, and we all eagerly anticipate our long-awaited rede-ployment. Nevertheless, the mission and our commitment to it keeps rolling along. Throughout this past month we have kicked into over-drive preparing for redeployment. All sections have been busy inventorying, packing up equipment, and sealing containers to prepare them for their journey back to the States. We have also finished turning in our excess equip-ment. But all that packing was not enough to keep our sections from performing their missions admirably. PSD has devoted a great deal of their time to partnering and training our Iraqi brothers in the ISF. Support platoon has also kept up with their mission to keep Ramadi supplied. In addition to keeping everyone running smoothly, the maintenance section also provided MRAP drivers training
and continued with partnership at Camp Fallujah. Please join us in congratulating our latest round of
promotions. Our officers moving up this month are CPT
Nicole Corum, the Company XO, CPT James Plutt, of S3,
and CPT Clifton Marshall, also of S3. SSG Gary Pacheco
from the Class One yard has moved up. SGT Michael
Galbraith of PSD and SGT Daniel Thomas of the MP pla-
toon are our two newest NCOs. And finally, SPC Matthew
Carlson has moved another step up.
ATW!
CPT Bob Yerkey and
1SG Robert Jordan
HHC Command Team
P A G E 2 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7
Michael Dominick, and PV2 Joseph Cole. Third Squad is mentored by SSG Ibrahima Haidara and SGTs David Ang-stadt, Kevin Bowers, and Michael Vaughn. Providing hands-on expertise are SPCs Jonathan Burke, Jose Bustamante, Mark Jackson, Ryan Sprout, and PFCs Christopher Bell, Larry Eubanks, Brandon Griffin, Megan Mahaffey, and James Williams.
Fourth squad provides leadership and an operations hub for the Military Police element of Camp Ramadi. Lead-ing this element is SGT Jerry Andersen. His PMO Ser-geants are SGTs Christopher Freeman, Amanda Jenkins, Michael Seager, and Christopher Watson. We even have two military working dogs that assist the men and women of the “Punisher” platoon. Led by 1LT Bryan Jonas and SFC Jason Bruch this tight knit crew makes significant and long lasting contributions each and every day.
Our Medics, led by 1LT Abraham Medina and SFC Richard Ortiz, go wherever we go. If there is convoy, route clearance mission or any other requirement there is a Devil Strike medic with that formation. Our “docs” are our quiet professionals and ensure that our Paratroopers receive the best, immediate medical attention as required. They also
run our Battalion’s Aid Station, conducting sick call hours, performing medical procedures, and taking care of the ac-cumulated bumps, bruises, strains and sprains within our formation. The medical platoon also conducted a first-ever combat life saver certification for personnel at the 1
st Iraqi
Army Division. The Iraqis walked away from the training conducted by the medical platoon with the capability to pro-vide on the scene aid and treatment. Great work by our Devil Strike medical team - SGTs Brian Derr, Michelle Trol-lip, Daniel Moser, Chika Nkata and their hands-on team of SPCs Jude Fortune, Thor Bumbrey, Matthew Noble, PFCs Curtis Hall, Morganne McBeth, Michael Spates, John Ro-sol, and Levi Myers. ATW! LTC Douglas F. Stitt DS6
From the left: James Plutt,
Clifton Marshall, and Nichole Corum all
promoted to Captain on 1 June, 2010
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7
The sun is just beginning to set, the roar of the trucks rumbling in the back-ground, people are scrambling with their weapons and gear hurrying to prepare for a mission. I’m wearing my second skin, the body armor I have become so accustomed to wearing. It takes away from my mobility but it’s supposed to keep me safe. While they rummage through their trucks I am inspecting my Aid bag making sure every-thing is in its proper place and that I have everything I need to hold their lives in my hands. The other soldiers finish the trucks and we gather around the platoon leader and listen as he briefs us about the mission we are about to undergo. “Among our attachments is our medic, PFC Spates,” he says. These are my guys and their safety is my mission. During the day I conduct sick call where I listen to what is wrong with each indi-vidual and do my best to ensure they are mission capable. From shoulder and knee
exams to immunizations, these are all services that we provide for our soldiers to en-sure that they are in their best health, on and off the battle field. At night I roll out with them on their missions and it is my responsibility to ensure they make it home safely. From the packing of their Combat Life Saver Bags, to my own Aid Bag, I have to make sure that we are prepared for anything. When bombs go off, or bullets start to fly, that is not the time to realize I forgot something, or don’t know where it is.
Day in and day out their safety and health is my mission, and the mission of every combat medic. These guys aren’t just a job to us they are our friends and comrades. Taking care of them every day causes them to become a part of us and we will do eve-rything we can for them. This is who I am, PFC Michael Spates a Combat Medic in the United States Army.
From the Foxhole: 1BSTB Medical Platoon Written by PFC Michael Spates
As a Military Policeman serving in Iraq, our main job is to provide convoy security to support elements traveling between different bases. Though this sounds like a get up and go task, there is a lot of planning and preparing on all levels from the squad leader down to the lowest ranking gunner that has to be done prior to us leaving the wire. Our day usually starts about 6 hours prior to us leav-ing. In those six hours, every member of the team has a specific task that must be completed to en-sure the success of the mission. The drivers and gunners of each vehicle will drive all the vehicles down to a staging point where they will get into the exact order that they will be traveling. Once staged, the driver and gunner of each vehicle will make sure that the truck is cleaned from prior mis-sions. The driver will then switch on all communication equipment and do check after check to make sure they’re working properly. This is normally the time that radio checks will be completed and any other radio maintenance will be done. While the driver is busy with the radios, the gunner will be se-curing all baggage and making sure that everything in the truck is tied down and secured. On top of securing the baggage, the gunner will also be getting his weapon ready to leave by putting it up in the turret and se-
curing it. Once the weapon is ready and the radio checks have been complete, all convoy elements will sit through a convoy brief. During this brief, we will get all information pertaining to where we’re going, the route we’re taking, if there is any enemy intelligence in the area that we will be traveling in and any other im-portant information that directly effects the convoy. After the convoy brief, there will be one final check of the trucks and communication equipment to ensure that everything is working properly. After the final check is done, we are then ready to leave the wire and carry out our mission. Upon returning from our mis-sion, there is an after action review where every member of the convoy gives his or her opinions on what we did well and what we need to improve on. Once this has ended, the mission is officially over. That is a day in the life of an 82
nd
Military Policeman in Iraq.
From the Foxhole: Military Police
Written by SPC Justin Kicos
PFC Spates ensures that his patients get a good attitude along with their medical care
PFC Spates waits before a mission
SPC Justin Kicos
SPC Kicos waits to replace the A/C unit in his vehicle
P A G E 4 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7
Alpha Company Newsletter— “ROCK STEADY!”
Alpha Company is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as soldiers have already been packing to come home. As the deployment winds down, A CO continues to work furiously as they sprint to the finish line:
1st Platoon’s Iraqi partners have taken the training they have learned and are currently applying it in a culminat-
ing training event. The company that 1st has trained is noticeably more prepared and better trained than their peers.
1st Platoon demonstrated their effectiveness as combat engineers by conducting an intense and exciting demolition
range in the desert of Iraq. The Platoon constructed several different charges and breeched multiple doors during this
urban breeching practical exercise. 1st Platoon continues to successfully conduct their nightly missions under their
new leadership, LT Ingram. So far this month the platoon has cleared 5 thousand miles of main roads in Iraq.
2nd
Platoon continues to interact with the 7th Iraq Army Division at Al Asad Airbase. With their Iraqi counterparts, 2nd Platoon has also cleared thousands of miles of major routes. Like 1st Platoon, 2nd Platoon also dem-onstrated their skills as combat engineers conducting a demolition range. The operators of 2nd platoon recently received credit and appreciation from a general officer because of their fast response and deliberate action using their engineer equipment to make improvements to their area of operations. The
operators of second platoon have been busy, pushing dirt during the day and run-ning missions at night.
3
rd Platoon continues to run mission, advising and assisting Iraqi Police work
at check points along their route. 3rd has been very successful this month in their route clearance operations, keeping the roads safe for military and civilian traffic. Even with all their hard work, members of third Platoon finds time to work out and sometime even catch some rays on the roof of their living quarters.
Headquarters Platoon has done a great job getting ready for the incoming unit while simulta-neously sending equipment home. The supply team, SSG James and PFC Katuwal, are cur-rently working hard on turning in equipment and preparing equipment to be signed over by the incoming unit. Operations Platoon, led by platoon sergeant SGT Robert Turner, has been extremely busy preparing many of the A CO soldiers for upcoming schools, and preparing the soldiers that are leaving the company for their move or transition out of the Army. Operations platoon is making sure all the necessary steps are taken to make our transition back home as fluid as possible. ATW! CPT Kurt Zortman and 1SG James Stuckey
A Co Command Team
Left– A second Platoon soldier learns how
to do a proper demolition charge from the
Iraqi Army
Above– LT Berreth Snags two turkeys during
his mid deployment leave. Every soldier in A
CO has completed mid tour leave and is
looking forward to block leave.
Third platoon preparing for a Route
Clearance mission
P A G E 5 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7
Bravo Company: The Black Dagger Bulletin 15JUN10: Ar Ramadi, Iraq. The Black Dagger’s continue to lead the way by providing critical intelligence support to the brigade. This past month has given the Officers, NCOs and Paratroopers the opportunity to again, show their extraordinary commitment and amazing effort in accomplishing the mission. The HUMINT and SIGINT platoons have re-energized their collection efforts while providing support to several Combined Medical Engagements (CME) throughout the brigade’s operating environment. The TUAS platoon continues their collection support to the Red Dev-ils and have adapted their schedule to account for the effects of extreme high tem-peratures on their equipment and Troopers. The Company’s Intelligence Electronic Warfare Maintainers have gone above and beyond the scope of their responsibili-ties and have led the way in training our Iraqi partners. The section conducted a week long training session with the 7
th Iraqi Army Division’s SIGINT Platoon. This
My name is Specialist Tristan Kennedy. I grew up in Kalama, Washington. I went to high school in Dallas, Ore-gon. I lived in Surprise, Arizona before I joined the Army. That is where I met my wife Brittany, and where she cur-rently lives with our son Hunter who was born while I was deployed to Iraq. I joined the army as an Airborne Combat Engineer on 18 Sep. 2007. I was assigned to A Company, 1
st Brigade Special Troops Battalion 82
nd Airborne Division
on 3 April 2008. After many informative classes and much needed hands on training I deployed August of 2009. I’m currently deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq as part of a Route Clearance Team. Every night we travel down assigned routes clearing them of any hazardous objects. Our goal is to maintain a safe route for other coalition convoys. We also are currently conducting partnership missions with the Iraqi Army. To build trust between both groups we conduct training with the Iraqi soldiers and play a soccer game every week. Some of the training we do consists of robotics operation, demolitions, basic engineer tasks, first aid, and actions taken during a combat situation. We conduct rifle marksmanship training with any weapon we might use in a combat situation. We have conducted basic survivability training by digging 2 man bunkers and camouflaging it with its surroundings. During our personnel time we go to the gym to better our physical fitness levels, talk to our family and friends back at home, and find ways to relieve the stress of deployment. For the most part I have enjoyed my experience on this deployment. I have been able to inter-act with the local nationals and experience their way of life. This deployment has been stressful on both me and my family. Due to mission requirements I am not always able to contact home. Due to this fact, the bond between my family and I has grown much stronger than it was. It has been hard on both my wife and I because of the fact that I am missing the first year of my son’s life. But we both know that what I am doing here in Iraq is for them and their fu-ture.
Alpha Company “From The Foxhole” Article
Written By: SPC Tristan Kennedy
SPC Kennedy builds a field expedient Bangalore using a picket. SPC Kennedy teaches IA to use the mechanical arm on their vehicle
Our Brigade Commander gives SSG Endo the Brigade Coin for his outstanding performance
Bravo Company “From The Foxhole” Written By: SPC Ryan Bowers, of the Intelligence Electronical Warfare (IEW) Platoon
The end of a deployment …And the end of a military enlistment. Packing up equipment and large
metal shipping containers reminds every single soldier that it’s almost time to return to family, friends, and everything they left at home. Yet for some it marks the ending of a chapter in our lives and the start of a new one. On return to Fort Bragg, many soldiers will be leaving their combat uniforms and airborne operations behind in ex-change for school books and college classrooms. As a Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer, this is my view, from my “fox hole”, on the current deployment and dreams of the future.
This deployment to Iraq has been one of time management and patience. With the mission of our brigade changing to partnership with the Iraqi Army and peo-ple, our job has become more about balancing daily rhythms and simple tasks with professional development and discipline. I personally taught blocks of instruction on electronic equipment maintenance and radio communication theory to Iraqi soldiers, and being able to work hand-in-hand with them was a unique experi-ence. I can say I personally had an impact on a group of people in the country we’re helping. Memories like these are
what you have to remember when it seems as if you’re working through daily tasks until it’s time to fly home. Focusing on physical fitness, wear and appearance of the military uniform, and maintenance and appearance of work areas and equipment are the other focuses of this deployment. Also, patience has definitely become a virtue as this entire year has been filled with situations and circumstances that can frustrate a soldier whose day to day activities can sometimes seem monotonous. Going to the gym, ending the day with a nice book, and crossing off another day on the calendar are how I avoid frustrations. As the days until we go home get closer, my dreams slowly start to materialize into reality. I’ve been helping many other soldiers with school applications and post-military benefits we’ve earned to help everyone reach their dreams too. When I leave the Army in November, I’ll close the last five years of my life as Specialist Ryan Bowers and move on to a longer journey through college to become Doctor
Ryan Bowers. Though the past years have been especially trying as a free-thinking person, I have learned much to carry with me into my future. Learning to tolerate others, listen to others, and have patience with people I work with are the most important points I’ve learned. In the years that follow I’ll always be able to think back to everything I had to learn while in the military, especially on deployments, and use the discipline and skills I’ve learned to carry me forward. In a few months I turn in my parachute and trade my rifle for a set of school books and I can only look back and remember all the good memories I’ll leave behind.
training has been instrumental in building the confidence and capability of the Iraqi Army’s intelligence collection capabilities. The Black Daggers have done an outstanding job at setting the stage for the arrival of 4
th BCT, 3
rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, GA. The men and women of this com-
pany will spend the next couple weeks preparing their left seat/right seat training, their individual sections hand over briefs, and completing equipment inventories for shipment back to Fort Bragg. The operation tempo for the Troopers will likely pick up in our re-maining weeks as we “sprint to the finish line” and ensure a full and complete transition with 4BSTB. As we wind down in Iraq, the first sergeant and I would like to thank all the friends and family of the Black Dagger’s for their incredible support throughout the deployment. Upon our return to Fort Bragg, the Troopers will go through a series of re-integration briefs and medical evaluations, jump and likely participate in a Divi-sion change of command ceremony. The first sergeant and I very much look forward to bringing your loved ones home and preparing the company to take block leave. ATW! CPT Christopher Lareau and 1SG Richard Walker Charlie Company Command Team
SGT Bowers samples from care packages given to B Co
SGT Bowers with his brother, Jason
SPC Rivera, during his promotion ceremony
Hello friends and families of the Coyotes, Charlie Com-pany, 1BSTB. The team has been hard at work as we get close to writing the final chapter of this deployment. Members of the Charlie Company partnership teams conducted their final classes for the Iraqi Army this month. The Iraqi Army is far more technically advanced than they were six months ago when our partnership began. Some of the Iraqi Army personnel had never come in contact with a computer pre-partnership. Now they are capable of setting up networked computers and transferring audio and video files from workstation to workstation.
The partnership teams in Al Asad and Fallujah have provided classes on Operating Systems, Microsoft Office, Networking, IP Ad-dresses, and more. Six months of hard work has paid off, and we have set a high standard for units conducting part-nership operations with Iraqi Forces. Working up at the Al Asad Operations Center, PFC Alvarez and PFC Schwartz were provided the opportunity to teach classes to the Iraqi Army, while other members of the team assisted in turning in equipment for our return home. The two partnership teams were instrumental in providing training on secure communication planning and usage for the successful na-tional elections in March. Their efforts will long be remem-
bered and appreciated by the Iraqi Army. SGT Hiatt, SPC Dixon, and SPC Christen have done an incredible job turning in all unneeded equipment before we hand it over to the unit replacing us. They managed and maintained millions of dollars worth of equipment that has now been handed over to the property book managers at Al Asad. The remainder of our equipment will be packed up over the next month as we prepare to depart Iraq. Containers will
begin heading for Fort Bragg shortly, followed by our troops. The JNN Teams have been doing an outstanding job this month and during the entire deployment, providing communication capabilities to the Brigade Combat Team. JNN2 is out of operation since the closure of Ubaydi, but they have been great team players in assisting
JNN1 with personnel manning and tech-nical advice. As a team they are closing out the final weeks and days of this de-ployment to ensure we provide enduring support to our maneuver forces. SSG Kent and the Ramadi Operation team have been preparing all of the documentation needed to get the team home and on block leave. Focusing on
keeping the team safe and out of harm’s way extends to Fort Bragg as well. They will be the pushing force in get-ting your loved ones home, safe and sound. The tempera-tures are about to peak, just in time to enjoy a nice cool summer in North Carolina, opposed to the whopping 120 degree days of Iraq. Airborne! All The Way! CPT Jason Gardel and 1SG John Bell Charlie Company Command Team
P A G E 7 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7
Charlie Company— “Coyote Chronicles”
Birthdays
PFC Rhodes - 2 June
SGT Tillman - 28 June
SGT Hiatt - 30 June
Above: SGT Kramer, SGT Fields, SGT Negron, and PFC Carter with Al Asad Air Base in the background
Below: PFC Schwartz is teaching a class to the 7th Iraqi Army Division Signal Company.
PFC Carter at bat, ready to hit a grand slam
V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7 P A G E 8
Recently, CPT Gardel and I had a chance to head to Vic-tory Base Complex in Bagdad in order to attend an Iraq wide Signal Conference. We headed out a day early to make sure we got there on time, as there is a high chance of weather interfering with travel at this time of the year. As a result, CPT Gardel and I had a chance to tour some of the historically significant parts of Victory Base Camp, including Saddam’s Pal-ace. The view from one of the palace balconies is the most beautiful landscape I’ve seen since we left home, as the pal-ace is surrounded by a large lake. After the day of touring, Coyote Company and Bri-gade S6 personnel attended the Signal Conference hosted by the theater J6, a Navy Rear Admiral David Simpson. The first half of the day focused on an under-standing of where communications are going for the Army. With the continuing advancements in communications technologies, the expertise of America’s Sons and Daugh-ters in the communications arena is playing a larger role in the combat effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In the
afternoon section of the confer-ence, partnership became the main focus. With confidence, I can say that out of all the communica-tions personnel currently de-ployed to Iraq, your family mem-bers have the most difficult com-munications mission. Both inter-nal communications and part-nership mission sets tasked to Coyote Company were more robust and showed more im-provement than other units. Coyote Company personnel have taught more partnership courses, seeing the most im-
provement out of any region in Iraq. Coyote Company personnel
tasked to provide Brigade communication support had their share of difficulties, also showing their technical prowess. I would like to thank our friends and family members for the continued morale support you have shown to your troopers; without your continued support the great things they accomplish would not happen. Parents, the character traits you instilled in these young men and women as they came to age enabled the low oversight missions we have accomplished. Take pride in knowing you raised them well.
Charlie Company “From the Foxhole” Article Written by 1LT Edwin Pope
1LT Pope and CPT Gardel sitting in a chair that was a gift to Saddam Hussein from
Yasir Arafat. The chair is on display at Al Faw Palace in Baghdad where 1LT Pope and
CPT Gardel attended the J6 Signal Conference.
P A G E 9 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7
1BSTB Medical Platoon In Pictures Want More Pictures? Check out 1BSTB 82nd Airborne on Facebook!
P A G E 1 0 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7
Military Police In Pictures Want More Pictures? Check out 1BSTB 82nd Airborne on Facebook!